TwoSeriously Injured in Highway Car Crash

PURDY A late-afternoon crash Wednesday left two people with life-threatening injuries after their car flew off an embankment near Highway 16, according to the Washington State Patrol. </p>
<p>Shortly after 4 p.m., troopers were called to the Highway 302 off-ramp from westbound Highway 16, where they found a smashed black 1999 Acura with 44-year-old Mary Ann Ralkowski of Port Orchard woman and 51-year-old Dean Smith of Seattle.</p>
<p>They were both taken to Tacoma General Hospital with "life-threatening critical injuries," according to Trooper J.J. Gundermann, State Patrol spokesman. </p>
<p>Smith was listed in serious condition at the hospital as of 11 p.m.; Ralkowski'scondition was not made available at press time. </p>
<p>Troopers investigating the crash said the Acura, driven by Ralkowski, was heading west on Highway 16 just past the Highway 302 off-ramp when it left the roadway for about 100 feet and then careened off an embankment, going airborne and eventually landing on the 302 off-ramp. </p>
<p>Jefferson Lind, a 27-year-old Purdy resident, was driving a 1999 Toyota pickup on the off-ramp with his driver's side window down when he heard a "whistling sound" through the trees, troopers said.</p>
<p>It turned out to be the Acura, flying off the embankment through the trees and rapidly approaching his truck.</p>
<p>Lind slammed on his brakes just in time to only scrape the side of the Acura as it crashed onto the off-ramp, troopers said. He man escaped unhurt. </p>
<p>"Had he not heard (the Acura), he might not be with us right now," Gundermann said.</p>
<p>Troopers said there was evidence of drug and alcohol use inside the Acura, and are still investigating.</p>
<p>"We do believe drugs and alcohol may be a contributing factor," Gundermann said.